Modi plays Dalit card

Bengaluru: Addressing a BJP’s election meeting at Gulbarga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress for not making Gulbarga’s famous son and Congress stalwart M Mallikarjuna Kharge Chief Minister of Karnataka.

However, in the same breath he questioned Kharge over his family's wealth alleging that he has amassed it in politics. Minutes later an enraged Kharge hit back at Modi holding him responsible for not according the official post of Leader of the Opposition to him just because he is a Dalit. “Don’t talk about my party. They have given me a lot. You did not allow me to become Leader of the Opposition just because I am a Dalit.

Your concerns for the Dalits is just a hypocrisy. SCs and STs are facing violence under your government,” Kharge said. He also took a jibe at Modi saying that the PM who wears a Rs10 lakh coat is questioning him about his family assets. He went one step further claiming that RSS ideology forced Dr B R Ambedkar to quit Hinduism and embrace Buddhism.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister has said the Congress party does not care about the feelings of Dalits instead they only care about deals. “Congress does not care about ‘Dil’ (people’s hearts and feelings) or Dalits. They only care about deals. If they cannot do welfare, then they should be bid farewell,” Modi said. He accused the Congress of misleading people in the name of Dalits saying, “They are obviously uncomfortable. Today the highest offices of the land are occupied by people from poor and humble backgrounds.

That is why now the Congress prefers to mislead in the name of the Dalit community.” “When we had the numbers to play a key role in the election of a President, we did not play party politics. We preferred that Abdul Kalam become the President of India. This time, we had the numbers but we preferred that a person from the Dalit community become the President,” PM stated.

The Prime Minister also attacked Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah saying, “Among the many things the Karnataka CM keeps with him is character certificates. Whenever a minister faces charges, the CM is ready with a character certificate. He loves defending the wrong kind of people.”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked Modi to prove his love for the Dalits by declaring a Dalit as BJP's CM candidate. Speaking to media he said, “If you really care for the Dalits please declare Dalit leader Govind Karajol as your CM candidate by dropping Yeddyurappa. Don’t give us a lecture on Dalit welfare. Look at yourself. The Modi government is an anti-SC/ST government.”

KPCC president Dr G Parameshwara, himself a Dalit like Kharge, also took on the PM saying that he has stopped attending Parliament not willing to face a Dalit Kharge and his speeches. Local Congress leaders argue that Modi’s “newfound” love for the Dalits will backfire as he has already angered them by taking many anti-Dalit decisions.

Dalit poet and Congress MP L Hanumanthiah said that the BJP had been insulting the Dalits for a long time and Modi’s words carried little credibility. The ruling Congress has also launched a blistering attack on UP CM Yogi Adityanath who has been campaigning for the BJP in Karnataka. Calling him a communal leader who is trying to divide Karnataka on religious lines, the Congress is talking about the criminal cases he is facing.

Siddaramaiah took a jibe at him for campaigning in Karnataka when over 73 people died due to dust storms in UP. The Congress is also questioning Yogi on alleged discrimination against the Dalit MPs in UP. Karnataka goes to polls on May 12 and 2,655 candidates, including 219 women, are in the poll fray for securing 224 seats up. The results will be declared on May 15.

Data provided by the Chief Electoral Office in Karnataka has indicated that the BJP will contest all 224 seats, while the Congress will contest 222 seats. The H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal-Secular will contest on 201 seats.